Page 2 of Falling Fast
‘Yes.’ I’m afraid to ask what his tone means. ‘Is that a problem?’
He hesitates, drumming his fingers on the desk. ‘I’ll be honest with you, Ava. I think you’d fit in perfectly here.’
‘I would.’ I shuffle forward to the edge of my chair. ‘I know I would.’
‘Unfortunately, I need people right now, and I definitely can’t keep a position open until May. The season begins next month and there’s still a lot of preparation to do. We’re launching the new car on Valentine’s Day.’
I swallow hard as my vision of a bright yellow future starts to fade before my eyes. I can’t let this opportunity slip through my fingers. ‘Would it be possible to work remotely or part-time until my exams are over? I’m confident that I could do both. I have excellent time-management skills.’
‘I’m afraid not.’ He shakes his head. ‘F1 is a way of life; you need to be all in. If you want the job, you’ll need to start immediately.’
I tense because one thing I’mnothalf-hearted about is this. I’m already all in. I just need five more months to finish my degree. Unless … My breath hitches as it occurs to me that Icouldleave university, abandon my finals. Who needs qualifications anyway? I could simply walk away and come here …
My entire being rebels at the idea. I have a life plan, and the prospect of changing any part of it – even in pursuit of my end goal – causes an immediate flare of panic. If I give up my degree now, all I’ll have to show for hundreds of hours of study is thirty-five thousand pounds’ worth of debt and two extremely disappointed parents. If I even suggest leaving university, they’ll instantly assume I’m having another breakdown and come rushing home from the eleven-month round-the-worldholiday they’ve been planning for literally decades, to take care of me – and they’ve only been gone a week.
But this is Quezada!
I’m so conflicted I can’t even articulate an answer. I just sit, tapping my three-inch stiletto heels against the carpet as I stare wordlessly at Jasper.
‘Look, I’m not asking you to abandon your studies. In fact, I insist that you don’t.’ He seems to understand my hesitation. ‘There’s obviously been a misunderstanding between Gio and I. I thought he meant you were available now.’ He snaps his laptop shut. ‘So call me at the end of the season and we’ll talk again.’
‘Thank you. That’s very generous.’ I clear my throat. It’s obvious there’s nothing further I can do to change his mind right now, but I’m determined to make one last request. ‘And if anything comes up over the summer …’
‘I’ll keep you in mind.’
I force a smile as I reach for my Monos Metro tote – a recent birthday present from my brother. I seem to be moving in slow motion, like I subconsciously think if I give Jasper more time he’ll reconsider.
This is a setback, that’s all, I tell myself. I need to hold on to the fact that Jasper’s invited me back. I’m still in control and I can’t –won’t– let this stop me or get me down. If I stick to the plan, then everything will work out. I’ve waited this long to get into F1, so I can wait a little longer. Eleven months, to be exact.
It sounds like an eternity.
‘I appreciate your time, Mr Ramirez.’ I push myself to my feet, though it takes all my willpower to do so. ‘See you in December.’
Three months into the F1 season and anyone who expected Fraser to run away with the trophy this year must be feeling disappointed. Quezada are back on form, turning the competition into a fight between the current world champion, Fraser’s Giovanni Bauer, and the two-time former champion, Quezada’s Jaxon Marr.
The other big news this weekend is the possible resurgence of Rask Racing. After an amazing start to the season, Rask have been plagued by mechanical issues, pushing them way down the grid table. But, after taking P3 in qualifying yesterday, it seems Norwegian driver Leif Olsen is fighting back.
On a personal note, I can’t believe I’m actually in Monaco to see it!
Single Seat News, 25 May
ONE
‘ARE YOU OK?’
I lower my sunglasses to peer at my best friend and former flatmate, Maisie. She may be the only person in the world who would ask such an insane question on a day like this.
We’re lying at opposite ends of a large cream-coloured daybed, beneath the canopy of a luxury super yacht, lined up alongside dozens of other impossibly huge yachts in the crystal-clear azure waters of Monaco harbour, waiting for the start of the most glamorous Grand Prix in the entire Formula 1 calendar. What kind of person – correction, what kind of F1 fan – wouldnotbe OK with this?
But the honest answer is no, I’m not OK. It’s been over four months since I walked out of Jasper Ramirez’s office and not a single day has passed when I haven’t wondered if it was the biggest mistake of my life. Being here as a spectator is both an amazing, once-in-a-lifetime experience and a painful, heart-wrenching reminder of what might have been. It just seems ungrateful to say so out loud.
‘I’m fine.’ I twist my face away so she can’t tell I’m lying. Maisie and I met in halls during our first year at universityand have been able to read each other’s expressions ever since. From the moment we met, I knew we were on the same wavelength, possibly because we’ve both been through stuff in our pasts that makes our lives … complicated, for want of a better word.
‘You don’t have to say that. I know it must be tough.’ She sounds sympathetic.
‘Maybe a little,’ I admit. ‘But I’m still thrilled to be here. Thank you for inviting me.’
‘You’re welcome! I just wish the timing wasn’t so terrible.’ She flings her iPad aside and shakes her chestnut curls with a groan of frustration. ‘I feel like my head is going to burst and I still have so much to revise. I wanted to finish another chapter before the race starts.’
